Mechanical voting machine

ABSTRACT

An improved mechanical voting machine embodying means facilitating the making of a single selection from a plurality of available ballot choices for each of two or more offices; such choices being presented as indicia carried on the faces of a plurality of voter operated push button selectors. The machine features an election official operated &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;entrance&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; control; means for preventing the voter from causing the machine to record more than one vote for each office, while requiring that a vote be cast for both offices before he leaves the machine; and means for printing the election results on required numbers of print out sheets.

[451 July 18, 1972 United States Patent Moldovan, Jr.

54] MECHANICAL VOTING MACHINE 3,408,002 10/1968 Martin.................................235/s4D m Ma B.A we mm 4 mm a me n ma v [73] Assignee: AVM Corporation, Jamestown, NY. Azm -john B. Bean, et a].

[22] Filed: June 28, 1971 ABSTRACT An improved mechanical voting machine embodying means facilitating the making of a single selection from a plurality of available ballot choices for each of two or more offices; such [21] Appl. No.:

choices being presented as indicia carried on the faces of a 5s FieldoiSearch..................:

plurality of voter operated push button selectors. The machine 235/55 R features an election official operated entrance" control;

means for preventing the voter from causing the machine to References cued record more than one vote for each office, while requiring that a vote be cast for both offices before he leaves the machine; and means for printing the election results on required numbe1s of print out sheets.

UNITED STATES PATENTS .235/54 R .....235/54 R .235/54 R x 14 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures Gustavson...............

m t & D. u 0 h S 926 366 999 Ill 422 l 0066 572 493 563 233 Patented July 18, 1972 f 3,677,462

6 Sheets-Sheet 1 I NVENTOR. l7/CHA EL TERRA/V65 MOLDOVA/V J2.

alal/4 \Qm ATTORNEYS Patented July 18, 1972 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENT 0R. MICHAEL TERRHNCE MOLDOVA/V JR.

@2114, $6M ATTORNEY-S Patented July 18, 1972 6 Shoots-Sheet. 5

I N VEN TOR.

rflcrmeL TERRHNCE MOLDO sow/12 @2314 @au ATTORNEYS Patentad July 18, 1972 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. MICHAEL TERRANCE MOZDOl/ANJR tWao @m (424% ATTORNEYS Llwee 80 Patented July 18, 1972 3,677,462

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. lf/CHA EL Tt'RP/JNCE MOLDO VAAALQ @eMvQZwq ATTORNEYS Patented July 18, 1972 3,677,462

6 Sheets-Sheet 6 IO 9 8 7 e 5 4 3 2 F0911. 260

l6 l5 l4 l5 l2 n MACHINE 254 NUMBER TOTALIZEI? PULL DOWN HERE INVENTOR. MICHAEL TEE/RANGE MOL DOV/4N J12.

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A TTOPNF'SS MECHANICAL vomit; MACHINE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in mechanically operated voting machines and is primarily directed to improvements having particular utility in voting machines of the type adapted to record only a single selection from a plurality of ballot choices presented to the voter for each of two or more offices, as required by single vote per office voting systems favored in many countries, such as for instance several countries of South America including Venezuela.

Generally, the voting machine of the present invention is of relatively small size and sufficiently light in weight to permit it to be easily carried by two men for positioning on a conveniently located table or other support, thereby to arrange machine voting instruction indicia, ballot display area, and recording handle at a height convenient for voter view and i use.

The ballot display area is comprised, as by way of example, of the forwardly facing surfaces of Presidential Ofiice Group selector push buttons, which are disposed to form an upper row; and Congress Oflice Group selector push buttons, which are disposed to form two bottom rows of 10 push buttons each. The push buttons of the bottom rows are arranged in vertical alignment with those of the upper row.

In use of the machine, a voter performs only two steps, that is, he indicates his choice by depressing one of the push buttons in each Office Group and records his choice by movement of the recording handle from right to left. The fact that the entire frontal area of the push buttons, which bears the party and/or candidate indicia, is pushed in and remains in until its associated recording mechanism is actuated by the voter, creates an absolutely positive identification for the voter as to the choice which he has made. The act of recording the vote also causes the depressed push button of each Ofiice Group to return to its original or pre-choice position in order to maintain secrecy of the voter's ballot. If the voter wishes to change his mind before recording his choice, he merely pushes in another push button of the same Ofiice Group, the act of which causes the first push bottom chosen in such group to automatically return to its pre-choice positron.

The machine includes a novel construction permitting only one push button of each Office Group to be fully depressed to voting position at any timeduring the voting operation and insuring that all push buttons are positively locked in their respective pre-choice or voting positions until the choice has been recorded. After the choice has been recorded, the choice push button of each group is automatically returned to its pre-choice" position and thereafter all push buttons are once again locked and will stay locked until the election official releases the machine via the remote control for use in subsequent voting cycle. If a voter fails to push in a push button in each Office Group, the recording handle is not released and therefore the voter is forced to make a proper selection in order to exit from the machine.

Thus, the machine will fully satisfy voting systems, which require a voter to make one and only one choice from a plurality of ballot selections presented for each of at least two offlces.

Upon operation of the remote control by the election official, the handle is moved automatically from its left into its right hand position; the machine being designed such that the handle can travel in only one direction at a time in order to prevent an unscrupulous voter from gaining a multiplicity of votes.

The machine additionally features an improved printing mechanism to record counter totals on tally sheets both before opening and after closing of the polls in order to give a permanent record of the number of ballots cast for each Party for each office, the total number of voters and the serial number of the machine.

DRAWINGS The nature and mode of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a voting machine formed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the area designated as FIG. 4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4A is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing an arrangement of parts wherein the counter is set to record a vote;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along line 5-5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the area generally designated as FIG. 6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 6A is a view similar to FIG. 6, but showing parts locked in non-voting position;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken generally along line 77 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the area generally designated as FIG. 8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 8A is a view similar to FIG. 8, but showing the parts locked in non-voting position;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the overall arrangement of parts of the present voting machine;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken generally along line l0- 10 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a view of the voting record printing pack; and

FIG. 12 is a rear elevational view of the voting machine having parts broken away to show the print pack assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Reference is now made particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein the voting machine of the present invention is generally designated as 10 and shown as being of a small size, such as to permit ready manipulation thereof by two men gripping handles 12. It will be understood that machine 10 has a pair of hingedly mounted front doors 14, which may be opened by the election official before commencement of voting to expose to voter view, as by way of example, voting instruction indicia, such as carried by strip, card or plate 16; a plurality of push buttons 18, which are divided into an upper Office Group, G-1 and a lower Office Group G-2; and a vote recording handle 20. The rear of machine 10 is provided with doors 22 and 24, and a transversely extending delivery opening or slot 26 for the reasons to be hereinafter described. One or the other of machine casing side walls 28 is formed with apertures to permit observation of a totalizer counter 32 for indicating the total number of votes cast for all candidates and a special accumulator counter, not shown; and to permit passage therethrough of a motion transmitting linkage, such as a push-pull or bowden type cable 40. As will hereinafter be described, cable 40 is employed to connect a suitable push button type operated mechanism 42, with the voting machine, thereby to permit an election official to exercise control of each voting cycle from a point relatively remote from the machine.

As with conventional voting machines, it is preferable to provide a secrecy curtain, not shown, to shield the voter and at least the front of machine 10 from view of the general public and the election official. For purposes of simplicity, the curtain may include a pair of manually operated draw curtains, which are supported in any suitable manner, such as by a curtain rod, also not shown, removably affixed to the casing of machine 10 by the election official.

To facilitate understanding of the overall mode of operation of the present voting machine, reference is now made particularly to FIG. 9, wherein the several mechanical components of the machine are shown as being over-controlled by the position of vote recording handle 20. Handle 20 is mounted on shaft 44 for pivotal movement transversely of the front of machine between its illustrated left hand non-voting" position and its right hand voting position, not shown; a handle connected weight 46 normally tending to bias handle into its voting position.

Extending transversely of machine 10, are linkage bars 48 and 50; the former being constrained by pin-slot connections 52 with the framework of the machine for horizontal reciprocating movement and the latter being constrained by pin-slot connections 54 of its end mounted side arms 56 and 58 with the framework of the machine for vertical reciprocating movement. Linkage bars 48 and 50 are interconnected adjacent the front, right hand side of the machine, as viewed in FIG. 9, by a machine framework mounted bell crank 60 and associated pin-slot connections 62. Linkage bars 48 and 50 are also interconnected adjacent the front," left hand side of the machine, as viewed in FIG. 9, by link 64, which is fixed for movement with shaft 44 and connected to linkage bar 50 by pin-slot connection 66; and by link 67, which is fixed for movement with shaft 44 and connected to linkage bar 48 by pin-slot connection 68. With the arrangement illustrated, when handle 20 is moved into its voting" position, linkage bar 48 is driven to the right from the position illustrated in FIG. 9, and linkage bar 50 is driven vertically upwardly, so as to effect lifting of side arms 56 and 58.

Associated with linkage bar 48 is a non-vote preventing mechanism 70; an election official controlled latch mechanism 72; and a handle movement direction control mechanism 74.

Mechanism 70 includes a pair of pawls 76 and 76', which are supported on a common pivot shaft and normally biased into a lower position for engagement with teeth 78 formed along the upper edge of a bracket attached to linkage bar 48; and linkage devices 80 and 80, which serve to movably interconnect pawls 76 and 76 with horizontally disposed follower bars 82 and 82, respectively. Follower bars 82 and 82' are in turn mounted for transverse reciprocating movements for wardly and rearwardly of machine 10 in a manner determined by operation of push buttons 18 of Ofiice Groups G-1 and G-Z, respectively. When linkage bar 48 is moved to the right upon movement of handle 20 into its voting position, pawls 76 and 76 merely ride over teeth 78. Return movement of the handle to its non-voting" position is prevented, however, until both of pawls 76 and 76' are lifted from engagement with teeth 78 as a result of the operation of a push button in each of Ofiice Groups G1 and G-2. Pawl 76' is formed with a slot, not shown, to freely receive the lower end of linkage device 80, thereby to prevent the movement of one of the pawls causing both to move from engagement with teeth 78. Thus, mechanism 70 serves to prevent a voter from unintentionally losing his vote, due to failure to follow voting directions.

Latch mechanism 72, includes a pivotally supported latch 84, whichis best shown in FIG. 10 as being removably receivable within slot 86 of linkage bar 48, and a motion transmitting assembly 88 for connecting latch 84 with cable 40. Linkage assembly 88 includes a horizontally reciprocating linkage 90, bell crank 92, vertically reciprocating linkage 94, link-arm 96, vertically reciprocating linkage 98, pivotally mounted linkage arm 100, vertically reciprocating linkage 102 and bell crank 104. Thus, when an election official wishes to prepare machine 10 for voting by operating mechanism 42, bell crank 104 is forced to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow 106 with the result that linkage 90 is forced to reciprocate to the left, as viewed in FIG. 9, and latch 84 forced to pivot from within slot 86. When latch 84 is withdrawn from slot 86, handle 20 is freed to move under the bias of weight 46 into its voting" position. At the end of the voting cycle, latch 84 and assembly 88 are returned to their initial handle latching positions by engagement of downwardly moving, side arm mounted stop flange 108 with machine side wall mounted pivot arm 110; the latter in turn being arranged to bear in engagement with return pin I12 carried by linkage 94, shown only in FIG. 9.

Mechanism 74 is shown in FIG. 9 as including a pivotally mounted catch arm 120, which is biased by a spring 122 for engagement with teeth 124 formed along the lower edge of linkage bar 48. The arrangement is such that after reciprocation of linkage bar 48 is initiated in either direction, reverse movement is prevented until arm is disengaged from teeth 124; this occurring only at opposite ends of the path of linkage movement, wherein handle 20 is in either of its voting" or non-voting positions.

Again referring to FIG. 9, it will be understood that side arms 56 and 58 may be employed to perform various functions. Thus, side arm 56 is shown as being employed to drive a known counter operating mechanism 130, as by way of example a mechanism of the type illustrated in US. Pat. No. 3,566,086; and as being provided with vertically spaced pairs of flange members 132, 134 and 132, 134, whose purpose will hereinafter be described in connection with FIGS. 5, 6 and 6A. Additionally, side arm 56 may be employed to drive the accumulator counter, not shown.

Side arm 58, in addition to being employed to effect return movements of latch 84 and assembly 88, in the manner already described, may be employed to drive totalizer counter 32 and employed in association with a known machine security mechanism, not shown, as for example the type disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,566,086.

Now referring to FIG. 1, it will be understood that machine 10 is designed so as to permit placement thereof upon a standard sized table, such that it is slightly tilted to the rear in order to conveniently orient indicia strip 16, push buttons 18 and handle 20 for voter view and use. Strip 16 may be printed with written and/or pictorial instructions to the voter concerning the two steps or acts, which he must perform in order to properly cast his vote. In that machine 10 is primarily designed to satisfy the requirements of single vote plural office type voting systems favored in several South American countries, as for instance Venezuela, instructions on strip 16 will preferably be printed in Spanish.

Again referring to FIG. 1, it will be understood that candidate identification indicia applied to the forwardly facing surfaces of the push buttons 18 of Office Groups G-1 and G-2 comprise the entire ballot display area of voting machine 10. As by way of example, the push buttons comprising Office Group G-l may be arranged in a single row of 10 push buttons R-I and employed for casting votes for the office of President. The push buttons comprising Office Group G-2 may be arranged in two rows of ten push buttons each R-2 and R3 and employed for casting votes for representatives for Congress. The push buttons of rows R-l, R-2 and R-3 are vertically aligned in columns designated as 0-1 C-l0. As will be hereinafter described, push buttons 18 normally reside in their non-voted or pre-choice positions, shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, but may be pushed to a depressed or "voted position for the purpose of making a vote selection, wherein the chosen push button of each Office Group remains until handle 20 is returned by a voter to its non-voting position. This arrangement creates an absolutely positive identification for the voter as to which choices he has made; the act of recording the vote by moving handle 20 to its non-voting" position causing the depressed buttons to return to their original pre-choice" positions, so as to maintain the voters ballot in secrecy.

Machine 10 is supported in its rearwardly tilted use or voting position by the lower rear edge of the machine casing and a pair ofleg brackets 142, which are hingedly secured one to each of casing side walls 28. As will be apparent from viewing FIG. 1, brackets 142 are formed with lower support edges 142', which are inclined relative to the bracket hinge axis and lie within a plane including the lower rear edge of machine casing when the brackets are pivoted into their Iowered" or use position, as indicated in phantom line. When machine 10 is not in use, brackets 142 are folded upwardly to lie against the casing side walls. To insure that machine 10 will not tip over when in use, a pair of safety devices 143 are provided one adjacent each rear comer of the machine casing. Each of devices 143 includes an upper link arm 144, which is pivotally fixed adjacent its upper end to casing side wall 28 by pivot pin 145; and a lower link arm 146, which is pivotally fixed adjacent one end thereof to the lower end of link arm 144 by pivot pin 147. The other end of link arm 146 is movably connected to casing sidewall 128 by a side walled mounted pin 148 received within a generally U-shaped link arm slot 149. As will be apparent, receipt of pin 148 within the leg portions of slot 149 serves to releasably lock device 143 in either its use position or its collapsed, storage position shown in phantom and full line, respectively, in FIG. 1. Preferably, when devices 143 are in their use position, the lower ends of link arms 144 are spaced slightly above the surface of the table on which machine is supported, such that the devices only come into use if the machine is pushed rearwardly about its lower rear edge.

Now referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 7, it will be seen that push buttons 18 comprise the front or operating end portions of identically constructed vote selector mechanisms 150. Each of selector mechanisms 150 additionally includes an operating member 152, which extends rearwardly through an opening 153 formed in machine front plate 154, and a counter actuator arm 156. Coil type compression springs 158, which are arranged concentrically of members 152 intermediate the rear faces of push buttons 18 and machine front plate 154, serve to normally bias the push buttons into their pre-choice" positions, illustrated for instance in the case of the right hand push button in FIG. 7. The relative arrangement of members 152 in rows and columns, which correspond to the arrangement of the push buttons illustrated in FIG. 1, is best shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 7.

Each of members 152 is formed from a pair of horizontally disposed upper and lower plates 160 and 161, which are rigidly connected in a spaced relationship by spacer blocls 163 and serve to journal opposite ends of vertically disposed cam rollers 166 and 168. Members 152 are guidingly supported for reciprocating movement by horizontally disposed front and rear guide rollers 170 and 172, respectively, which are received between plates 160 and 161; and by a pair of vertically disposed guide rollers 174, which are arranged to engage opposite side edges of plates 160 and 161. Roller 170 is mounted on machine front plate 154, and rollers 172 and 174 are mounted on one of three push button row associated mounting bars 176, which extend horizontally transversely of machine 10 in a vertically spaced relationship. Each of mount ing bars 176 additionally carries 10 pin shafts 178, which serve to support counter actuator anns 156 for horizontal pivotal movement, as determined by the positioning of cam rollers 168 within generally L-shaped counter actuator arm slots 179.

Cam rollers 166 are received one within each of a plurality of identical cam slots 180, which are formed in an upper cam bar 182 provided in association with the selector mechanisms of Ofiice Group G-1 and a pair of lower cam bars 182, which are provided in association with the selector mechanisms of Office Group G-2. Cam bars 182' are vertically interconnected by connector plates 184, and all of the cam bars are mounted on the framework of machine 10 by pin-slot connections 186 for horizontal reciprocating movement transversely of the machine. As will be seen, cam bars 182 and 182' pass between plates 160 and 161 of members 152 of the row of push buttons with which they are individually associated, and tension springs 190 normally serve to bias cam bars 182 and 182' towards their full right hand position illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7.

Each of operator members 152 associated with push button row R-l carries a pin projection 192, shown only in FIGS. 3 and 9, which is engageable with follower bar 82; and a generally L-shaped finger 194, which is arranged to engage an interlock 196. Interlock 196 is preferably in the form of a single, closed end tube 198, which is substantially completely filled with interlock balls or spheres 200 and formed with a forwardly opening slot 202 dimensioned to receive the rearwardly projecting ends of fingers 194. It will be understood that the cumulative spacing between balls 200 is sufiicient to permit only one of fingers 194 to be fully inserted through slot 202 at any one time, thereby to prevent a voter from simultaneously pushing two or more of push buttons 18 in Office Group G-l into their fully depressed or voting positions.

In a like fashion each of operator members 152 associated with push button rows R-2 and R-3 carries a pin projection 192', which is engageable with a corresponding one of follower bars 82; and a finger 194, which is arranged to engage an interlock 196'. Interlock 196 is identical to interlock 196 I and in a like fashion prevents two or more of the push buttons in Office Group 6-2 from being simultaneously depressed into voting position.

A vertically disposed bank of totalizing counters 210 extends across the rear of machine 10 and is shown for example as comprising 10 vertically disposed columns of counters, which are individually designated as 212 and are associated one with each of columns of push buttons 18 C-1 through C-10. Each column 212 comprises a plurality of like counter units, which are individually designated as 214 and are disposed in three rows associated one with each of push button rows R-l through R-3, thereby providing one counter unit for each of selector mechanisms 150. Also, two additional counters 215 may be provided in association with the first and last columns of counters for the purpose of recording the total number of ballots cast, or if desired arranged to form an extra or eleventh counter column. These counters, together with counter units 214 and totalizer counter 32 may be reset to zero by a machine custodian before commencement of voting.

As best shown in FIGS. 4, 4A and 9, each of counter units 214 includes a counter actuator 216, which is engageable by an associated counter actuator arm 156; a plurality of counterwheels 218, which have indicia arranged to face rearwardly of the machine for the purpose of printing a permanent record of votes cast in the manner to be described; and an actuator pinion 220. As best shown in FIG. 7, each of actuators 216 is mounted for reciprocation between right and left hand idling and counter set or advancing positions, respectively, under the control of its associated counter actuator arm. When an actuator 216 has been moved into its counter set position, it is engaged with its associated actuator pinion 220 and operable to step counterwheels 218 when rotated by an associated yoke 224, this resulting from vertical movement of a yoke carrying ladder-shaped operator 226 of the above mentioned mechanism 130, during return movement of handle 20 to its non-voting position. In the present construction, one operator 226 is provided for each of counter columns 212.

As mentioned above, when handle 20 has been released by the election ofiicial and has been moved by weight 46 into its voting" position, a voter is free to indicate his choice of the parties and/or candidates comprising the ballot or, if required by applicable election law, to cast a non-vote ballot by pushing in appropriate ones of push buttons 18. When a selected push button 18 is depressed, its associate cam roller 166 is forced to move rearwardly within its cam bar slot successively from its pre-choice position, designated as P-I in FIG. 7; past its release" position designated as P-2 in FIG. 8; and into its fully depressed or voting position, designated as P-3 in FIG. 7. During this movement, cam bar 182 or bars 182 with which the selected push button is associated is initially forced to move progressively towards the left, as cam roller 166 moves between positions P-1 and R2, and are thereafter drawn progressively towards the right by springs 190, as cam roller 166 moves between positions P-2 and P-3. When in position P-3, the shape of cam slot 180 serves to prevent return of cam roller 166 by its associated spring 158. If spring 158 is sufliciently strong, it will immediately return its associated push button to its pre-choice position if the voter does not force same fully into its P-3 position. Simultaneous with the movement of cam roller 166 from position P-l to a point at or slightly beyond position P-2, cam roller 168 moves rearwardly within the first leg of its associated counter actuator arm slot 179 between positions P-1 and P-II without producing movement of the counter actuator arm 156, as indicated in FIG. 8. During subsequent movement of cam roller 166 into its position P-3, however, cam roller 168 is operable to rotate its associated counter actuator arm in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 7, thereby to drive counter actuator 216 into its se or counter advancing position. Preferably, at some point in travel of cam roller 166 commencing after about position P-2 and terminating before any significant setting movement of counter actuator 216 has commenced, its associated finger 194 or 194' is moved into interlock 196 or 196' sufficiently to prevent entry of a finger associated with another push button of the same Office Group.

If a voter then wishes to change his ballot choice for a given Office Group, he may do so by merely pushing in another push button of the same Ofiice Group. By the time this latter push button has been depressed into about position P-2, cam bar 182 or cam bars 182' has been moved sufiiciently to free the originally depressed push button from its position P-3, thereby to permit it to be automatically returned via its P-2 position to its pre-choice P-l position by its associated coilspring 154. Of course, by the time the originally depressed push button reaches its P-2 position, its associated counter actuator arm has returned the originally set counter actuator 216 to its initial position. This arrangement coupled with interlocks 196 and 196' insures against more than one vote selection being made in each Office Group, while handle is in its voting position.

When a voter is satisfied with his selection, he need merely move handle 20 into its non-voting position in order to record his vote. However, as mentioned above, unless one of the push buttons has been fully depressed in each of Office Groups G-1 and G-2, mechanism 70 remains locked to prevent return movement of the handle.

Immediately upon initiation of movement of handle 20 towards its non-voting position, side arm 56 is lowered sufficiently to position flange 132 in engagement with a flange 182a fixed to the end of cam bar 182 and flange 132' in engagement with the end of one of cam bars 182' or connector plate 184, as best shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, thereby temporarily preventing movement of cam bars 182 and 182 to the left from the position shown in FIG. 7. It will be understood that when cam bars 182 and 182 are thus arrested from movement, push buttons 18 of both Office Groups are also arrested from movement out of either of their respective P-l or P-3 positions.

During an immediately succeeding period of side arm movement, counter operating mechanism 130 is driven by side arm 56 to step the counter units previously set by the fully depressed voter chosen push buttons of the Office Groups. After the vote is registered, continued downward movement of the side arms into their lowermost position serves to first place flange 132 in alignment with slot opening 230 of flange 182a and flange 132' in alignment with slot opening 230' of connector 184, thereby to free flanges 132 and 132' from arresting engagement with the cam bars. As this occurs, flanges 134 and 134 are lowered into engagement with one leg of each of bell cranks 232 and 232, whose other legs are received within slots 234 and 234 of cam bar 182 and the lowermost of cam bars 182, respectively. Rotation of bell cranks 232 and 232 serves to drive their associated cam bars from their arrested position, shown in FIG. 7, into their full left hand or locked position, shown in FIGS. 6A and 8A. At the initiation of such movement, cam roller 166 of each chosen push button is freed from its P-3 position to return under the bias of its associated coil spring 158 relatively towards its P-l position. However, due to the sidewise movement of the cam bars into their locked position, each cam roller 166 moves relative to its associated cam slot 180 into a locked" P-4 position. As will be apparent, during this short period of time, the non-chosen push buttons are freed for only limited movement relative to their initial pre-choice positions; the inclined cam slot side wall 240 being efiective to progressively limit inward movement of such push buttons until all push buttons are finally locked in their P-4 positions upon completion of travel of handle 20 into itsfnon-voting" position. This limited movement does not adversely effect machine operation since the vote has been registered by the time such movement is permitted to occur.

Push buttons 18 of both Ofiice Groups will remain locked in their pre-choice positions until the election ofiicial again operates mechanism 42 to open the voting machine for use b I a subsequent voter.

The present machine additionally incorporates a voting tally or record printing pack, which is generally designated as 250 in FIGS. 2, 3 and 12 and may be similar to that disclosed in Venezuela Pat. No. 21,013. Pack 250 is employed to provide a printed record of the setting of counter wheels 218 of counter units 214 and the counter-wheels of additional counters 215, both prior to and subsequent to a vote taking period. Pack 250 includes consecutively disposed cover sheet 252, which has indicia thereon for indicating the relative arrangement of counter units 214 and additional counters 215; a pair of proof sheets 254; and six tally or return sheets 256-261. Sheets 252, 254 and 256460 are all backed by carbon or ink surfaces.

To prepare the machine for voting, a machine custodian opens hinged door 22, which normally covers the rear of the counter colunm compartment and hangs pack 250 upon pins 270, thus mounting the pack in position behind the bank of counters 210 and in contact with the exposed peripheral portions of the counterwheels. Before this time, each of counter units 214 and counters 215 has preferably been set to zero. When door 22 is closed, pack 250 is completely enclosed within the machine and inaccessible to unauthorized handling.

In order to print the readings of the counterwheels upon the proof and tally sheets, there is provided a traveling platen, which is generally in the form of an upright bracket designated at 272 in FIGS. 3 and 12. Platen 272 is mounted for horizontal sliding engagement rearwardly of the bank of counters 210 upon a fixed rail 274, which extends transversely of the rear of the machine and comprises an integral portion of the rigid framework thereof. The platen 272 mounts a series of platen rollers 276 upon vertical axle means in such manner that the rollers 276 are in horizontal registry with the exposed peripheral portions of the counterwheels. Rollers 276 are so dimensioned and arranged that when pack 250 is hung upon pins 270 and platen 272 is moved, as from the right side of the pack to the left as viewed in FIG. 12, the rollers will thereupon press the paper pack firmly against the exposed raised numerals of the counterwheels, thereby causing the inked surfaces to print the counterwheel zero readings upon the fronts of the proof sheets 254 and the tally sheets 256 261. The taking of zero" readings is performed by the election official immediately prior to the voting period. Movements of the platen from one side to another of the machine may be accomplished by any suitable mechanism, such as a cable mechanism 280 driven by a hand crank 281, removably applied by the election official to an operator shaft 282.

Pins 270 are so supported that whenever the platen is displaced from the right to left, as viewed in FIG. 12, the last portion of travel of the platen to the left causes the pins to be displaced to a lower elevation, thereby lowering the entire record pack relative to its previous elevation during the zero reading printing process. As will be observed by examination of FIG. 11, the proof sheets are dimensioned to extend at its lower end somewhat below the bottom edges of the other sheets of the pack; and the sheets are so dimensioned that when the pack is thus lowered, as explained hereinabove, only the bottom edges of the proof sheets project out through the delivery opening 26 (FIGS. 2 and 3). Thus, the election official may grasp the lower edge of the proof sheets and pull down upon it in order to effect severing thereof from the rest of the pack along a line of perforations, not shown. The proof sheets are thus pulled free of the machine for inspection purposes by the election official. Upon subsequent return movement of the platen from left to right at the end of the voting period, the tally pack will be disposed at a lower elevation than when the zero readings were printed, whereby the voting totals of the counterwheels will be printed on the tally sheets at an elevation above the zero readings for ready comparison therewith. If by mistake, one or more of the counterwheels was not initially set to zero, the actual vote may be readily determined by merely subtracting the zero" reading from the final recorded reading. Return movement of the platen may be accomplished by election oflicial manipulation of the operator shaft, as described above. Then, upon final return of the platen to the right hand end of the machine, the sheet pack will be pushed off the pins 270, and thereby released and permitted to slide by gravity downwardly out through discharge opening 26 for recovery; one sheet being retained by the election official and the remaining sheets being forwarded to other oflicials, as determined by applicable election laws.

I claim:

1. A voting machine comprising in combination:

a plurality of vote counter mechanisms corresponding one with each of a plurality of ballot selections from which a voter must choose his vote;

a plurality of selection means associated one with each of said counter mechanisms, said selection means being divided on the basis of the number of different Office Groups appearing on the ballot and the number of ballot selections available in each such Office Group, said selection means being individually operable by a voter to set an associated counter mechanism for subsequent operation to register his vote;

limiting means for limiting the number of said selector means which may be operated by a voter to set said counter mechanisms;

a handle mechanism including a handle movable by a voter from a first position wherein said selection means may be operated into a second position for operating said set counter mechanism thereby to register his vote;

arresting means for preventing operation of said selection means when said handle is in said second position thereof;

latch means for automatically locking said handle in said second position; and

release means under the control of an election official for releasing said latch means to permit movement of said handle from said second position into said first position, whereby to free said selection means for operation by a subsequent voter.

2. A voting machine according to claim 1, wherein said handle mechanism includes biasing means tending to automatically move said handle from said second position into said first position upon release of said latch means.

3. A voting machine according to claim 2, wherein said biasing means includes a weight fixed for movement with said handie.

4. A voting machine according to claim 1, wherein each of said selection means includes a voter depressable push button, a member supporting said push button for reciprocation between a pre-choice position and a depressed voting position, spring means tending to bias said push button towards said pre-choice position, and a counter actuator arm driven by said member between associated counter mechanism unset and set positions when said push button is reciprocated between said pre-choice and voting positions; and said limiting means includes return means associated one return means with each of said Office Groups and being operable when said handle is in said first position to releasably retain a fully depressed push button of an associated Office Group in voting position and to automatically release a previously depressed push button of an associated Ofiice Group for movement, from its voting position to its pre-choice position when another of the push buttons of an associated Office Group is depressed by a voter for movement towards said voting position thereof.

5. A voting machine according to claim 4, wherein said push buttons are arranged as rows of push buttons provided at least one row for each of said Office Groups, and said return means associated with each Office Group includes a cam bar pro- Jillvided one in association with each said row and associated spring means, each said cam bar being mounted for reciprocating movement transversely of said members of an associated row of push buttons and having a plurality of cam openings therein, said members carrying cam means receivable one within each of said cam openings, said associated spring means normally tending to bias said cam bars into a first position thereof and cooperating with said spring means of an associated row of push buttons to releasably retain said cam means disposed in a first position relatively within said cam openings when said push buttons of an associated row are in said pre-choice position and said cam bar is in said first position thereof, said cam openings being configured such that when any one push button of an associated row is depressed by a voter said cam bar is first reciprocated by engagement with the one cam means associated with said one push button in a direction away from said first position until said one cam means moves to a second position relative to said cam opening and is thereafter permitted to be returned by said associated spring means to said first position thereof as said one cam means moves to a third position relative to said cam opening, said third position of said one cam means corresponding to said voting position of said one push button, and said cam opening further being configured to releasably retain said one cam means in said third position thereof against the return bias of said spring means, whereby when another of said push buttons of said row is depressed the resultant cam bar movement automatically releases said cam means of a previously depressed push button of such row from said third position thereby to permit return of said previously depressed push button to the pre-choice position thereof.

6. A voting machine according to claim 5, wherein each of said members is connected to its associated counter actuator arms such as to permit driving thereof from said unset to said set positions only during movement of said cam means of an associated depressed push button between said second and third positions thereof.

7. A voting machine according to claim 6, wherein said arresting means includes successively operable first and second means associated one first and second means with each of said Office Groups, each said first means being operable at the initiation of movement of said handle from said first to said second position thereof to constrain its associated cam bar from movement in said direction away from said first position thereof, thereby to retain push buttons of an associated Office Group in their respective pre-choice or voting positions until completion of operation of said set counter mechanism to register a vote, each said second means being operative immediately upon release of said cam bar by its associated first means to drive said released cam bar in said first direction into a locked position beyond the position into which said released cam bar is moved when one of said cam means is moved to said second position thereof, thereby to initially release a chosen push button of an associated Ofiice Group for movement between said voting and pre-choice positions thereof, each of said cam openings being further characterized as having an edge portion inclined relative to the path of movement of said released cam bar and serving to reduce the distance through which an associated push button may be depressed progressively as said released cam bar is moved towards its locked position whereby said cam means are finally locked within a fourth position relatively within said cam openings to prevent movement of said push buttons from said pre-choice position thereof when said handle is in said second position thereof.

8. A voting machine according to claim 7, wherein push buttons of one of said Ofiice Groups are arranged in at least two rows extending transversely of the front of the machine, the two cam bars associated with said two rows being connected by means insuring simultaneous movement of said cam bars, said arresting means includes a side arm driven for vertical reciprocating movement by said handle mechanism, said first means includes a first flange carried on said side arm and positionable in constraining engagement with one of said two cam bars and said connecting means, and said second means includes pivotal means engageable with one of said two cam bars and a second flange carried on said side arm for engagement with said pivotal means to drive said two cam bars to said locked position thereof when said first flange is removed from constraining engagement as aforesaid.

9. A voting machine according to claim 8, wherein said limiting means additionally includes interlock means provided one for each of said Office Groups, each of said interlock means including a plurality of fingers fixed one to each of the members of an associated group and a tube housing a plurality of interlock balls and having a slot opening through a side wall thereof dimensioned to receive said fingers for insertion between said balls, the cumulative spacing between said balls accommodating for the insertion of only one of said fingers therebetween at any one time, said interlock means and said fingers being relatively arranged such that said fingers are presented for insertion between said balls during a point in cam means movement relative to said cam openings intermediate the point at which a previously depressed push button is released and the point at which said counter actuator arms are driven into said set positions thereof.

10. A voting machine according to claim 9, wherein said handle mechanism includes a weight tending to automatically move said handle from said second position into said first position upon release of said latch means.

11. A voting machine according to claim 4, wherein said push buttons are arranged as rows of push buttons provided one row for one of said Ofi'rce Groups and two rows for a second Office Group; and said limiting means additionally includes interlock means provided one for each of said Ofiice Groups, each said interlock means comprising a plurality of fingers carried one on each of the members associated with the Office Group and a single straight tube housing a plurality of interlock balls and having a slot opening through one side wall thereof dimensioned to receive said fingers for passage between said balls, characterized in that the cumulative spacing between said balls accommodates for the insertion of only one of said fingers therebetween at any one time and said interlock is arranged such that one of said fingers is insertable into said interlock during a portion of push button reciprocation intermediate the point at which a previously depressed push button is released and the point at which a counter actuator arm is driven into said counter mechanism set position.

12. A voting machine according to claim 1, wherein said machine additionally includes prevention means for preventing movement of said handle from said first to said second position until operation of one of said selection means in each of said Office Groups by said voter; and said handle mechanism includes biasing means tending to automatically move said handle from second position into said first position upon release of said latch means.

13. A voting machine according to claim 1, wherein each of said selection means includes a voter depressable push button, a rigid member for supporting said push button for reciprocation between a pre-choice position and a depressed voting position, spring means tending to bias said push button towards said pre-choice position and a counter actuator arm supported for pivotal movement about an axis disposed perpendicular to the direction of reciprocation of said push button, each said member carrying a finger and first and second cam rollers, each said actuator arm having a cam slot receiving an associated one of said second cam rollers, engagement of said second cam roller within said arm cam slot maintaining said counter actuator arm in a counter mechanism unset position when an associated push button is in said pre-choice position, each of said arm cam slots being configured thereby to permit significant movement of an associated push button towards said voting position thereof before permitting driving of said counter actuator arm by said second cam roller towards a counter mechanism set position, each of said counter actuator arms bein in said counter actuator set positron when an associated pus button rs in said voting position;

and said limiting means associated one with each said Office Group includes return means and interlock means, each said return means being operable when said handle is in said first position to releasably retain a fully depressed push button of an associated Otfice Group in voting position and to automatically release a previously depressed push button of such Office Group for movement from its voting position to its pre-choice position when another of said push buttons of such Office Group is depressed by a voter for movement towards said voting position thereof, said first cam roller of said other push button engaging with said return means to effect release of said previously depressed push button from said voting position before movement of said other push button suflrciently to effect driving of its associated counter actuator arm into said set position, said interlock means accepting therewithin only one of said fingers of such Ofifice Group at any one time and being arranged to receive a finger of a push button at a point during push button travel intermediate the points at which a previously depressed push button is released from voting position and at which the counter actuator arm of said other push button is driven into said set position.

14. A voting machine according to claim 1, wherein there is additionally provided a voting return printing device comprising in combination, a frame mounted upon said voting machine marginally of said counter mechanisms and arranged to be vertically shiftable relative thereto, a tally sheet pack having sheets arranged in face-to-face relation, means mounting said tally sheet pack upon said frame to cover the rear surfaces of counterwheels associated with each of said counter mechanisms, a printing platen comprising a member mounting upon vertical axles a series of rollers, said platen being mounted upon said machine so as to be shiftable from end-toend thereof across the rear faces of said counterwheels, said rollers being dimensioned and arranged upon said platen so as to be carried thereby in horizontally traveling directions and pressed firmly against protruding portions of said counterwheels thereby impressing upon said sheets facsimiles of the readings of said counterwheels, means carried by said machine and operable automatically upon arrival of said platen at one end of said machine to move said frame vertically whereby to cause said tally sheet pack to be positioned at one elevation during travel of said platen from one end of said machine to another, while being disposed at a different elevation during travel of said platen from said other end of the machine to the first mentioned end thereof, and means connected with said means mounting the tally sheet pack upon the frame operable automatically upon arrival of said platen at one end of the machine to release said tally sheet to fall by gravity out of the machine. 

1. A voting machine comprising in combination: a plurality of vote counter mechanisms corresponding one with each of a plurality of ballot selections from which a voter must choose his vote; a plurality of selection means associated one with each of said counter mechanisms, said selection means being divided on the basis of the number of different Office Groups appearing on the ballot and the number of ballot selections available in each such Office Group, said selection means being individually operable by a voter to set an associated counter mechanism for subsequent operation to register his vote; limiting means for limiting the number of said selector means which may be operated by a voter to set said counter mechanisms; a handle mechanism including a handle movable by a voter from a first position wherein said selection means may be operated into a second position for operating said set counter mechanism thereby to register his vote; arresting means for preventing operation of said selection means when said handle is in said second position thereof; latch means for automatically locking said handle in said second position; and release means under the control of an election official for releasing said latch means to permit movement of said handle from said second position into said first position, whereby to free said selection means for operation by a subsequent voter.
 2. A voting machine according to claim 1, wherein said handle mechanism includes biasing means tending to automatically move said handle from said second position into said first position upon release of said latch means.
 3. A voting machine according to claim 2, wherein said biasing means includes a weight fixed for movement with said handle.
 4. A voting machine according to claim 1, wherein each of said selection means includes a voter depressable push button, a member supporting said push button for reciprocation between a pre-choice position and a depressed voting position, spring means tending to bias said push button towards said pre-choice position, and a counter actuator arm driven by said member between associated counter mechanism unset and set positions when said push button is reciprocated between said pre-choice and voting positions; and said limiting means includes return means associated one return means with each of said Office Groups and being operable when said handle is in said first position to releasably retain a fully depressed push button of an associated Office Group in voting position and to automatically release a previously depressed push button of an associated Office Group for movement from its voting position to its pre-choice position when another of the push buttons of an associated Office Group is depressed by a voter for movement towards said voting position thereof.
 5. A voting machine according to claim 4, wherein said push buttons are arranged as rows of push buttons provided at least one row for each of said Office Groups, and said return means associated with each Office Group includes a cam bar provided one in association with each said row and associated spring means, each said cam bar being mounted for reciprocating movement transversely of said members of an associAted row of push buttons and having a plurality of cam openings therein, said members carrying cam means receivable one within each of said cam openings, said associated spring means normally tending to bias said cam bars into a first position thereof and cooperating with said spring means of an associated row of push buttons to releasably retain said cam means disposed in a first position relatively within said cam openings when said push buttons of an associated row are in said pre-choice position and said cam bar is in said first position thereof, said cam openings being configured such that when any one push button of an associated row is depressed by a voter said cam bar is first reciprocated by engagement with the one cam means associated with said one push button in a direction away from said first position until said one cam means moves to a second position relative to said cam opening and is thereafter permitted to be returned by said associated spring means to said first position thereof as said one cam means moves to a third position relative to said cam opening, said third position of said one cam means corresponding to said voting position of said one push button, and said cam opening further being configured to releasably retain said one cam means in said third position thereof against the return bias of said spring means, whereby when another of said push buttons of said row is depressed the resultant cam bar movement automatically releases said cam means of a previously depressed push button of such row from said third position thereby to permit return of said previously depressed push button to the pre-choice position thereof.
 6. A voting machine according to claim 5, wherein each of said members is connected to its associated counter actuator arms such as to permit driving thereof from said unset to said set positions only during movement of said cam means of an associated depressed push button between said second and third positions thereof.
 7. A voting machine according to claim 6, wherein said arresting means includes successively operable first and second means associated one first and second means with each of said Office Groups, each said first means being operable at the initiation of movement of said handle from said first to said second position thereof to constrain its associated cam bar from movement in said direction away from said first position thereof, thereby to retain push buttons of an associated Office Group in their respective pre-choice or voting positions until completion of operation of said set counter mechanism to register a vote, each said second means being operative immediately upon release of said cam bar by its associated first means to drive said released cam bar in said first direction into a locked position beyond the position into which said released cam bar is moved when one of said cam means is moved to said second position thereof, thereby to initially release a chosen push button of an associated Office Group for movement between said voting and pre-choice positions thereof, each of said cam openings being further characterized as having an edge portion inclined relative to the path of movement of said released cam bar and serving to reduce the distance through which an associated push button may be depressed progressively as said released cam bar is moved towards its locked position whereby said cam means are finally locked within a fourth position relatively within said cam openings to prevent movement of said push buttons from said pre-choice position thereof when said handle is in said second position thereof.
 8. A voting machine according to claim 7, wherein push buttons of one of said Office Groups are arranged in at least two rows extending transversely of the front of the machine, the two cam bars associated with said two rows being connected by means insuring simultaneous movement of said cam bars, said arresting means includes a side arm driven for vertical reciprocating movement by said handLe mechanism, said first means includes a first flange carried on said side arm and positionable in constraining engagement with one of said two cam bars and said connecting means, and said second means includes pivotal means engageable with one of said two cam bars and a second flange carried on said side arm for engagement with said pivotal means to drive said two cam bars to said locked position thereof when said first flange is removed from constraining engagement as aforesaid.
 9. A voting machine according to claim 8, wherein said limiting means additionally includes interlock means provided one for each of said Office Groups, each of said interlock means including a plurality of fingers fixed one to each of the members of an associated group and a tube housing a plurality of interlock balls and having a slot opening through a side wall thereof dimensioned to receive said fingers for insertion between said balls, the cumulative spacing between said balls accommodating for the insertion of only one of said fingers therebetween at any one time, said interlock means and said fingers being relatively arranged such that said fingers are presented for insertion between said balls during a point in cam means movement relative to said cam openings intermediate the point at which a previously depressed push button is released and the point at which said counter actuator arms are driven into said set positions thereof.
 10. A voting machine according to claim 9, wherein said handle mechanism includes a weight tending to automatically move said handle from said second position into said first position upon release of said latch means.
 11. A voting machine according to claim 4, wherein said push buttons are arranged as rows of push buttons provided one row for one of said Office Groups and two rows for a second Office Group; and said limiting means additionally includes interlock means provided one for each of said Office Groups, each said interlock means comprising a plurality of fingers carried one on each of the members associated with the Office Group and a single straight tube housing a plurality of interlock balls and having a slot opening through one side wall thereof dimensioned to receive said fingers for passage between said balls, characterized in that the cumulative spacing between said balls accommodates for the insertion of only one of said fingers therebetween at any one time and said interlock is arranged such that one of said fingers is insertable into said interlock during a portion of push button reciprocation intermediate the point at which a previously depressed push button is released and the point at which a counter actuator arm is driven into said counter mechanism set position.
 12. A voting machine according to claim 1, wherein said machine additionally includes prevention means for preventing movement of said handle from said first to said second position until operation of one of said selection means in each of said Office Groups by said voter; and said handle mechanism includes biasing means tending to automatically move said handle from second position into said first position upon release of said latch means.
 13. A voting machine according to claim 1, wherein each of said selection means includes a voter depressable push button, a rigid member for supporting said push button for reciprocation between a pre-choice position and a depressed voting position, spring means tending to bias said push button towards said pre-choice position and a counter actuator arm supported for pivotal movement about an axis disposed perpendicular to the direction of reciprocation of said push button, each said member carrying a finger and first and second cam rollers, each said actuator arm having a cam slot receiving an associated one of said second cam rollers, engagement of said second cam roller within said arm cam slot maintaining said counter actuator arm in a counter mechanism unset position when an associated push button is in sAid pre-choice position, each of said arm cam slots being configured thereby to permit significant movement of an associated push button towards said voting position thereof before permitting driving of said counter actuator arm by said second cam roller towards a counter mechanism set position, each of said counter actuator arms being in said counter actuator set position when an associated push button is in said voting position; and said limiting means associated one with each said Office Group includes return means and interlock means, each said return means being operable when said handle is in said first position to releasably retain a fully depressed push button of an associated Office Group in voting position and to automatically release a previously depressed push button of such Office Group for movement from its voting position to its pre-choice position when another of said push buttons of such Office Group is depressed by a voter for movement towards said voting position thereof, said first cam roller of said other push button engaging with said return means to effect release of said previously depressed push button from said voting position before movement of said other push button sufficiently to effect driving of its associated counter actuator arm into said set position, said interlock means accepting therewithin only one of said fingers of such Office Group at any one time and being arranged to receive a finger of a push button at a point during push button travel intermediate the points at which a previously depressed push button is released from voting position and at which the counter actuator arm of said other push button is driven into said set position.
 14. A voting machine according to claim 1, wherein there is additionally provided a voting return printing device comprising in combination, a frame mounted upon said voting machine marginally of said counter mechanisms and arranged to be vertically shiftable relative thereto, a tally sheet pack having sheets arranged in face-to-face relation, means mounting said tally sheet pack upon said frame to cover the rear surfaces of counterwheels associated with each of said counter mechanisms, a printing platen comprising a member mounting upon vertical axles a series of rollers, said platen being mounted upon said machine so as to be shiftable from end-to-end thereof across the rear faces of said counterwheels, said rollers being dimensioned and arranged upon said platen so as to be carried thereby in horizontally traveling directions and pressed firmly against protruding portions of said counterwheels thereby impressing upon said sheets facsimiles of the readings of said counterwheels, means carried by said machine and operable automatically upon arrival of said platen at one end of said machine to move said frame vertically whereby to cause said tally sheet pack to be positioned at one elevation during travel of said platen from one end of said machine to another, while being disposed at a different elevation during travel of said platen from said other end of the machine to the first mentioned end thereof, and means connected with said means mounting the tally sheet pack upon the frame operable automatically upon arrival of said platen at one end of the machine to release said tally sheet to fall by gravity out of the machine. 